The impact of enriched housing on the behaviour and welfare of captive leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius)

Abstract

Substantial evidence demonstrates the benefits of environmental enrichment in mammals and birds. However, far less is known about this topic in reptiles—an increasingly popular group of pets. This study compared the effects of housing conditions (Standard vs. Enriched) on the behaviour and welfare of captive leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius). Within the Enriched housing condition, two different enrichment conditions were assessed: Naturalistic and Non-Naturalistic. Geckos (N = 6) individually experienced each of the three housing conditions for four weeks. Welfare was assessed by observing the behaviour of the geckos within their enclosure, followed by behavioural tests of anxiety (e.g., novel environment and object tests) at the end of the four weeks. The animals were then switched to the next housing condition, with order counterbalanced across individuals. This was repeated for all housing conditions, after which the geckos were given a preference test. Results revealed that when geckos were housed in Enriched enclosures, they exhibited a range of behaviours indicative of improved welfare (e.g., spent more time lying in the water bowl and less time interacting with barriers) compared to when housed in Standard conditions. However, we observed no differences in behavioural expression between the Naturalistic and Non-Naturalistic enriched enclosures. Although we observed no differences between Enriched and Standard housing conditions in the behavioural tests of anxiety, in the preference test, when given a choice between the three housing conditions, the geckos displayed a strong preference for the Naturalistic enriched enclosure. Overall, our findings suggest that enriched housing conditions improved the welfare of leopard geckos. Therefore, we recommend that geckos should be housed in enriched enclosures with, where possible, the inclusion of naturalistic features.